Should we get involved and speaking (NP)

How many ( if any) of you saw the documentary in the series called "Dox" last night about Edward Snowden?

The title of the film is "CitizenFour"

I can really recommend it as a preparation for our topic in the Writing examination- Should we get involved?

The documentary is a very intimate picture of Edward Snowden- filmed in a hotel room in Hong Kong together with two investigative journalists and where the famous Snowden interview is filmed....

Otherwise today you need to read the articles in the handout and discuss them.

Check out especially the initial questions on the first page and make a word list of key words on the different topics.

At the same time there are seven people who have the last opportunity today to do the "Speaking" examination- on the topic of respect.

This is our last lesson before you will do the Writing examination next Thursday..

Use it very sensibly. I will be rotating between the classroom and the language lab (Lingotek). So, ask questions if you need help..

Same procedure as last time!

See Tuesday's blog!
 At the beginning of the lesson we will distribute the preparation material for the WRITING part of the National Test.

Today and Tuesday you will have the opportunity to read the texts and discuss them with your classmates.

These handouts are PERSONAL and have to be signed out. They must be returned at the beginning of the WRITING test.

Today at least 8 people need to do the speaking.

First come first served!

Three alternatives- all good

Today you have three alternatives for the English class.

Alternative 1
Since the Lingotek is free today there is an opportunity to do the Speaking part of the National Test (max. 8 people- 4 pairs)- First come first served.

Alternative 2 is concerned with your report. Remember you should use AT LEAST one English source..

If you are getting to the end of the Report then it is time to start writing your abstract. Here are some helpful links:

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Abstract

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/656/1/

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/abstracts/

Your abstract should be written in correct neutral English and with the focus on the material and not on YOU. 

Alternative 3 is to prepare for the rest of the national test by working on past papers and exercises:

Here is the link:
http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_6_exempeluppg

and some more information to help you:-

http://www.studienet.se/nationella-prov/engelska/6

Resource pages

Today we will continue to go through the rest of the resource pages in Context 2. How did you get on with the two exercises about the idioms?

Idioms give spice to the language.. but they give two problems:-

1. Translation
"It's raining cats and dogs"
"She's having kittens"


2. Register
Some idioms can be used in more formal situations but many have to be used in less formal circumstances...

Let us look at the execises 8 and 9 from Context 2.

Revision

• What did we say about strategies for language learning?

Give some examples

• What did we say about learning vocabulary? 

Register?  Context?

• Why is it important to be a critical reader? (Quote on page 225)

Today we are going to look at the three remaining language areas:

Writing

Descriptive writing--- Look at the example on page 233

Reflective writing-- look at page 236-7  (This is where you comment or expand facts with your own comments and views)

Discussion Essay-- Look at page 239 (This is the most important area to use for the national test)

Check thru' the points

Letters and emails

Formal and informal

See the examples on page 242 /243

Listening

Always examine the purpose for your listening

• general understanding
• specific information
• feed-back
• entertainment

Native speakers

Different areas have different accents and are easier/harder to understand (see page 247)

Listening with a purpose

Check out 2 areas from those mentioned on page 248-249

Speaking

Key concepts

Know your PURPOSE and know your LISTENER

See task 34 on page 252

Presentations

Excellent advice on page 254

Debates  (more formal English)

On page 257 there are some instructions about running a debate

Interviews

Really important for your Final Year Project

See page 259

Formal Interviews

Job and college entrance interviews.. Good information on page 260-61

Interview and Resource pages

Welcome back to our first English lesson after the Easter break.

We start off with a short interview concerning your Easter holiday.

We will do it on paper to get you out of the digital world for a while!

Here are the questions:

Easter  break

1. Where did you spend the Easter holidays ? Did you travel at all?

2. In what way (if any) did you use the time to practice sports/ recreation ?

3. Describe the most boring day of the break.

4. Describe the best day of the break.

5. What was the best/ worst thing about your holiday ?

6. How does it feel like to be back at school ?

7. Do you think the break was too short / just right /  too long ?

8. How much English did you hear/ speak during the break ? (explain!)

9, What traditions (if any) do you and your family have which are associated with Easter?

10. If you compare Easter and Christmas which one feels more relevant to you and why?

The rest of the lesson we will go through the first half of the "Resource pages" in the Context book.
Don't forget last year's resources which are available online
https://gleerupsportal.se/
or
www.gleerupslms.se

Today we will look at general language learning areas and the kind of learner you might be.

How to search in a meaningful way is also a good resource

Then we will move on to talk about the following areas:


Reading

Acquiring vocabulary 

Writing

On Friday we will look at:-

Listening

Speaking

Realia